NAMM Members Lobby Congress About the Importance of Supporting Music Education in Schools

Members of NAMM, the not-for-profit trade association of the international music products industry, recently converged on Washington, D.C., for the organization’s annual Advocacy Fly-In event to take the music product industry’s pro-music-education message to their respective elected federal lawmakers in Congress.

The group of 25 music products industry professionals separated into eight groups, logging an unprecedented 73 meetings with elected officials and staffers.

The NAMM delegates explained the need to keep music and arts education as core curriculum subjects in the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act, and to include in the law greater flexibility and funding in Title I to provide access to music education and ensure a quality and complete education for all students.

The NAMM representatives also outlined their goals to advance policy reform by supporting an ongoing study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to assess the impact of NCLB on student access to quality music and arts education.

Strengthening the industry’s case, NAMM has supported scientific research showing the link between music and student performance.

Recent NAMM-sponsored studies have shown:

• Students in top-quality middle school music programs scored 22 percent better in English and 20 percent better in math than students in deficient music programs
• Students in top-quality instrumental programs in high schools scored 17 percent higher in mathematics than students in schools without a music program
• Teenagers’ view music making as their “social glue” and that music education gives them the balanced experience in life they require.

In addition, recent public opinion surveys have shown overwhelming support for access to music education and identify a new and growing constituency of voters (30 percent) who advocate building capacities of the imagination and education going beyond the current focus on “basics.” Statistics include:

• 91 percent of voters indicate that music and arts are essential to building imagination
• 82 percent of voters want to build imagination and creative skills in schools
• 86 percent of those people with college degrees participated in a music education program
• 96 percent of principals interviewed agree that participating in music programs encourages students to stay in school.

For years, NAMM has conducted research regarding the effects of playing music on children and people of all ages. Research indicates that children who are engaged in music score higher on standardized tests and have higher school retention and graduation rates. Playing music has helped adults increase productivity, build confidence, reduce stress, stave off depression and provides an opportunity to learn and grow socially and emotionally.

“I think it’s extremely important that NAMM advocate for music education,” said Jim D'Addario of J. D'Addario & Co. Inc. “There’s a shortage of teachers in this country. I think we have to work as an organization to entice people to become music teachers and then we have to work hard to advocate at the government level to support music education. It’s certainly been one of the most important things in my life. Not necessarily because I’m in the music business, but because I’m a musician and everyone in my family is a musician and it’s, I think, made us better people. Music education is where it all starts.”

“I think music education is truly the one issue that binds us together as a big group,” said Lianne Rockley of Rockley Music Co. Inc. “Where there are industry issues that leave people on both sides of the fence, music education is the one that everybody agrees is important across the board. When an issue is of that magnitude to a group of 9,000 members you have to do something about it. You’ve got to make that a major issue in policy and in trying to change the world. I think all that NAMM can do is allocate more time and effort and monies to that advocacy issue because it’s one that will benefit everyone.”

“I feel that every child should be given the chance to study music and/or the arts because it develops creativity,” said Neil Lilien of Meisel Music Inc. “Creativity and imagination are very, very important facets of getting a job—especially in the 21st century.”

“This annual event is driven by the pure dedication and passion that NAMM and its Members have for music programs in schools and the lifetime rewards that playing music can have on children and people in general,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO, NAMM. “We feel that our devotion to advocating in Washington, D.C., annually is moving the needle regarding the current perception and laws surrounding music education.”